Franz foecheb yon ainbach



GAR COUPLING.

Patented Apr.-29, 1884.

P. P. VON AINBAGH & A. HAUGER.

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n. PETERS. mbunw m, Washington, D a

I I UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ rono'nna voN AI BAcH, or HAUTZENBUO L, AND ANToN HAUGEF, or JUDENBURG, STYRIA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,957, dated April 29, 1884.

Application filed June 11, 1883. Renewed March 25, 1884. (N model.)' Patented in Germany April 29, 1883, No. 24,720; in France April 30, 1883, No. 155,187; in Belgium May 1,1883, No. 61,287; in England May 2, 1883, No. 2,239, and in Italy May 12, 1883,

XVII, 15,420, XXX, 419.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANZ FORGHER voN 4 AINBAGH and ANTON HAUGER, subjects of Austria-Hungary, residing at Hautzenbuchl and J udenburg, in the Province of Styria, in the-Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved car-couplin g which is safe and reliable.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of our improved carcoupling, parts being broken out and others shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the coupling. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional elevation of the coupling on the line a m, Fig. 1. V

The coupling, for the sake of greater safety, is made double, and is composed of two coupling-pistons, A, and two coupling-cylinders, B, one coupling-piston and one coupling-cyl-. inder being attached to the buffer-beam on each end of each car in such a manner that the coupling-piston of one car is opposite the coupling-cylinder of the other. As shown, the pistons and cylinders are fastened to the cars by means of ball-and-socket joints, so that they may move freely in all directions; but the coupling is non-elastic. As shown, the ordinary draw-bars provided with hooks E, or with mouths for receiving the links, are arranged between our improved couplings, and form a yielding connection between the cars. Each buffer-beam G of the frame is provided with a supporting-plate, D, to the ends of which the boxes or sockets of the joints are fitted, and

the end of the car.

in these sockets the spherical heads or balls of the couplings are held. A transverse head, F, fitted on the plate D, is provided at both ends with rings or caps, which are placed over the sockets d, and hold the heads of the couplings in the sockets. When a train is set in motion, the couplings first move from the supporting-plate D, the transverse head F moving with them, and then when an equilibrium is established between all the traction-rods 'throughout the train the sockets and the transverseheads again rest upon the support ing-plates. plates, which have the shape of segments of a sphere, serve as rest-s for the coupling piston and cylinder when the same must act as buffers. A buffer-rod, G, provided with a head, G, is'placed within the coupling-cylinder B, and the other end of the said rod passes through the coupling-cylinder, and is provided withaa nut to prevent the rod from being forced outward too far by india-rubber washers or springs g, surrounding the rod G. In place of the india-rubber washers or springs a spiral spring may be used. a

- In order to unite the pistons and the cylindersautomatically, a fastening plate or catch, H, is pivoted in a notch or slot in the end of each piston A, the free end of which plate is pressed downward by a spiral or other spring, I, the said free end of the plate being toward When the piston enters the coupling-cylinder, the plate or catch H engages with or snaps into a' notch or recess in the cylinder, and thus locks the piston in the cylinder. As the piston passes farther into the cylinder, the plate or catch H slides on its edge along the beveled face of the notch 12, and is forced against the spring into the slot in the piston. A sleeve,K, composed of two half-sections surrounding the piston, and

bolted together, is held loosely; on the cylinder by two shoulders, k k. The'sleeve K is provided with a longitudinal slot, Z. The sleeve The bearings d of the supportingis open, the catch or fastening-plate H can enter and can be forced into the notch 11 by the springs I; but if the sleeve is so adjusted that it closes the notch Z)that is, if the .notch 11 and the slot Z do not coincidethe cars will not be coupled, for the springs I cannot force the plate H through the slot Z and the notch b, and if the piston is withdrawn from the cylinder, the plate H will not catch and lock the piston in the cylinder, as the free end of the plate H can slide up the beveled end of the notch b. That the sleeve K shall not revolve accidentally and disconnect the cars, it is provided with a handle for turning it, and with devices for locking it in position.

In the modification of this invention (shown in Fig. 4) the sleeve K is provided on one of its edges with a catch, k which slides in a notch in the shoulder 7a of the coupling-cylinder, and adapts itself to either extremity of this notch, according as the notch or slot 1 of the sleeve is placed opposite the notch b of the cylinder B, or the notch b is closed by the sleeve. By means of a weight, L, pivoted on the sleeve K, the said sleeve is turned in that direction in which the weight is adjusted. The attendant, standing at the side of the car, turns the sleeve by means of a stick or hook, whether the said sleeve is provided with a weight or with a handle. The cylinders B are provided with funnel-shaped mouths B, so that the pistons will always be guided into the cylinders. If two cars are to be coupled, the pistons are passed into the corresponding cylinders, the catches H are pushed back and slide along the sides of the cylinders B until tlfiy arrive at the notches or slots 1) of the cylin ers and the slots Z of the sleeves, into which notches or slots they are pressed by the springs I.

In order to uncouple the cars,the same must be pushed toward each other, so that the outside edge of each fastening-plate or catch can slide along the beveled face of the notch b, and then the said plates are pushed out of the notches of the sleeves; then the sleeves K are turned so as to close the notches or slots 1), and the pistons can be withdrawn.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a male and female coupling on the same car, of an intermediate hook, E, arranged between said couplings, as shown and described.

2. The buffer-beam 0, provided with a supporting-plate, D, having the sockets d, in combination with the transverse head F, provided at both ends with rings, whereby the spherical 3. The combination, with the coupling-cylinder having shoulders 7; k and the pivoted spring-pressed plate H, of the sleeve K, slotted at l,and made adjustable around said cylinder, as and for the purpose specified.

4. A car-coupling composed of a cylinder fixed by means of a ball-and-soeket joint to the buffer-beam of one car, and a piston fixed in the same manner to the buffer-beam of the opposite car, the said piston being provided with a longitudinal groove in which a catch is pivoted, which catch is adapted to enter a notch or slot in the cylinder, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a cylinder mounted on one car and a piston on the opposite car, of a catch in the piston, and of a loose sleeve on the cylinder, which sleeve is provided with a notch or slot, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a cylinder mounted on one car and a piston on the opposite car, of a catch in the piston, and of a loose sleeve on the cylinder, which sleeve is provided with a notch or slot, and with a handle for turning it, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a cylinder on one car and a piston on the opposite car, of a buffer-rod in the cylinder, and of a spring surrounding the butler-rod, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a car-coupling, asupporting-plate, D, on the buffer-beams, in which plate the boxes d, of spherical shape, are formed, and through which passes the traction-rod E, in combination with the transverse head F, placed loosely behind the hook of the traction-rod, and hearing at each extremity a ring with spherical faces, which hold the balls of the piston A and of the cylinder 13 against the boxes (I of the supporting-plate D, so as to connect the double coupling to the traction-rods with which all the cars are provided, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANZ FORCHER VON AINBACII. ANTON HAUGER. Witnesses:

VVILLIAM HUNING, J AMES RILEY WEAVER. 

